AVG Technologies

AVG Technologies s.r.o.
Traded as NYSE: AVG
Industry Computer software
Founded Czech Republic (1991)
Founder
  • Jan Gritzbach
  • Tomáš Hofer
Headquarters Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
Products Antivirus software
Number of employees
 1013 worldwide
Website www.avg.com/homepage

AVG Technologies (formerly named Grisoft) is a Czech company formed in 1991 by Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer, with corporate offices in Europe and the United States. The company specializes in computer security software. As of February 2, 2015 over 200 million active users used AVG´s software products and services, which include internet security, performance optimization, and personal privacy and identity protection applications.[1]


Products

Main article: AVG (software)

Home security

Business security

Mobile security

History

In 2001, Jan Gritzbach decided to sell Grisoft to Benson Oak Capital Acquisitions. Four years later, Benson Oak sold a 65% share in the company to Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors for $52 million.[2][3][4]

On April 19, 2006, Grisoft acquired the German company ewido Networks, an anti-spyware software manufacturer, and incorporated ewido's features into new versions of AVG software.[5][6]

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced that AVG Security products would be available directly from the Windows Security Center in Windows Vista.[7] Since June 7, 2006, the AVG software has also been used as an optional component of GFI MailSecurity, produced by GFI Software.[8]

On December 5, 2007, Grisoft announced the acquisition of Exploit Prevention Labs, developer of the LinkScanner safe surfing technology.[9]

In February 2008, Grisoft was officially renamed AVG Technologies. This change was made to increase the effectiveness of their marketing activities.[10]

In January 2009, AVG announced their plans to acquire Sana Security are finalized. Plans to integrate Sana's technologies in their free consumer product, AVG Anti-Virus, are still under consideration, according to JR Smith, AVG's chief executive. Sana Security's developed technologies are currently licensed to Symantec.[11][12][13]

On October 5, 2009, TA Associates announced that they bought a minority stake in AVG Technologies for more than $200 million.[14]

On June 9, 2010, AVG announced the acquisition of North Carolina-based Walling Data, a North America security software distribution that has distributed AVG offerings across the United States since 2001[15]

On November 10, 2010, AVG announced the acquisition of Tel Aviv-based DroidSecurity, a company that specializes in the field of mobile security solutions, for Android devices. Upon completion of the acquisition DroidSecurity will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AVG and DroidSecurity CEO and co-founder, Eran Pfeffer, will become the general manager of AVG’s Mobile Solutions Team.[16]

In December 2010, AVG released a mandatory-install update to the 2011 version of its antivirus software which caused thousands of 64 bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers to become completely inoperable. AVG has since released a fix which attempts to repair computers bricked after installing the update. Affected users can watch the following video on AVG's Official YouTube page to resolve the issue.[17]

On January 28, 2011, a dangerous rogue appeared. The interface and graphics resemble the previous version of the software and uses sophisticated social engineering to deceive users and infect their systems. The malware also contains the Internet Explorer emergency mode.[18][19]

On June 12, 2013, AVG Technologies announced the acquisition of Level Platforms.[20]

On July 30, 2013, AVG Technologies announced Gary Kovacs as the company's new CEO.[21]

Partnerships

On August 20, 2010 AVG entered into partnership with Moka5 to secure desktop virtualisation solutions. The partnership adds a critical security layer to the virtual desktop marketplace, as more enterprise companies are turning to desktop virtualization as a secure solution for bringing your own computer (BYOC) and work from home initiatives for employees.[22]

On July 1, 2010 AVG partnered with Opera Software to provide malware security in their web browser Opera, the protection was added to the existing Fraud Protection technology (Netcraft and PhishTank from Haute Secure).[23]

In July 2011, AVG joined forces with Israeli company Zbang to launch Multimi, a free Windows and iPad app that integrates e-mail, social media and multimedia in one interface. AVG provides Linkscanner for the app, checking each link that is sent through e-mail, shared on a social network, or found via search.[24]

In December 2012, AVG and Yahoo! partnered for the Secure Search toolbar

In September 2013, AVG partnered with Facebook to launch Facebook's privacy application: AVG Crowd Control

Controversy

In May 2012, AVG Technologies issued a copyright claim, referred to as a 'takedown request,' for a YouTube video of 1987 pop song Never Gonna Give You Up, performed by British singer Rick Astley.[25][26][27][28] The video, which as of May 2012, has over 61 million views and 300,000 comments, had been uploaded in 2007,[29] and was restored within 24 hours by YouTube.[25][26][27][28] The video's name refers to the internet meme commonly referred to as 'Rickrolling,' where someone pranks others by tricking them into going to the video.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AVG Surpasses 200 Million Users Worldwide". Now.avg.com. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  2. ↑ "GRISOFT "Celebrates 15 Years of Internet Security Success", AVG Technologies bulletin, 15 December 2006". Avg.com. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  3. ↑ "Intel buys part of Grisoft". Grisoft.com. 2005-09-06. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  4. ↑ "Intel buys part of AVG Technologies". Avg.com. 2005-09-06. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  5. ↑ "AVG Technologies announces release of ewido Anti-Spyware". Avg.co.uk. 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  6. ↑ "Grisoft announces release of ewido Anti-Spyware". Avguk.com. 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  7. ↑ "Microsoft incorporates AVG into the Vista Security Center". Avguk.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  8. ↑ "What's new in GFI MailSecurity for Exchange/SMTP 10?". Kbase.gfi.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  9. ↑ AVG Acquires Exploit Prevention Labs, Developer of LinkScanner Safe Surfing Technology.
  10. ↑ AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security - Leading Internet security vendor, Grisoft, changes name to AVG Technologies
  11. ↑ Rubenking, Neil J. (2009-01-13). "AVG Buys Sana's Behavior-Based Security Tech | News & Opinion". PCMag.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  12. ↑ Meyer, David (2009-01-13). "AVG Technologies buys Sana Security | Security Management | ZDNet UK". News.zdnet.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  13. ↑ Hoffman, Stefanie. "AVG Acquires Sana Security, Adds ID Protection". Crn.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  14. ↑ "TA Associates - News". Ta.com. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Technologies Acquires Leading US Distributor, Walling Data". AVG. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  16. ↑ "AVG Antivirus & Security Software - AVG Technologies to Acquire DroidSecurity". Avg.com. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  17. ↑ officialAVG (2010-12-02). "Updated AVG 2011 Rescue CD/USB (for 3292 update)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  18. ↑ Spyware Fix - Fake AVG 2011
  19. ↑ Bleeping Computer - Internet Explorer Emergency Mode
  20. ↑ http://mediacenter.avg.com/news/avg-acquires-the-business-of-lpi-level-platforms
  21. ↑ http://blogs.avg.com/news-threats/gary-kovacs-named-chief-executive-officer-avg-technologies/
  22. ↑ "AVG and MokaFive Join Forces to Secure Virtual Desktops | Aug 20, 2010". RFPConnect. 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  23. ↑ "Opera 10.6, The World's Fastest Stable Browser, Tested vs. IE 9". DailyTech. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  24. ↑ multimi.com
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown". TorrentFreak. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Rickroll Video Removed Due to Copyright Claim from AVG". Tom's Hardware. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus". MaximumPC. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "News of 'Rickroll' meme death greatly exaggerated". MSNBC. 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  29. ↑ "RickRoll'D - YouTube". YouTube. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2012-05-26.

External links